Friday

Nov 9, 2018 at 4:23 PMNov 9, 2018 at 8:53 PM

BEREA — It remains to be understood how the John Dorsey regime views linebacker Christian Kirksey's future.

In terms of his present, there is an element of surprise in him being placed on injured reserve with seven games remaining. The Browns' brass opted to end his fifth season after he suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter of Sunday's 37-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kirksey said the hamstring is not torn but said "yes" when asked if it is "a bad pull."

"I didn't think it would cost me the rest of the year, but I got the MRI and it was worse than I thought," Kirksey said Friday. "So I'm on I.R. But whatever is best for the team."

Kirksey and left guard Joel Bitonio are the longest-tenured Browns draftees, having been drafted in 2014. They are the only players on the roster who were with the Browns the last time they faced Sunday's opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, on Nov. 23, 2014.

Kirksey became a full-time starter in 2016 and a captain in 2017. He is working under a four-year, $38 million contract extension signed in 2017 when the Sashi Brown regime was in power.

"I'm going to still be a vocal leader," Kirksey said. "I'm going to still be here. Y'all going to still see a smile on my face.

"So nothing's really going to change as far as how I'm approaching helping this team. But unfortunately I'll be off the field."

Record within reach

The fun has been leaking out of Jarvis Landry's football life.

From 2011-13 in college, he was part of LSU teams that went 33-7. From 2014-17 with the Miami Dolphins, he was on teams that went a combined 30-34.

As a first-year Browns player, he is on a team with a 2-6-1 record and is on a four-game losing streak. That takes the joy out of having 55 catches and being on course to break the franchise single-season record of 89 receptions shared by Ozzie Newsome and Kellen Winslow Jr.

"Things happen during a season," Landry said. "You roll with the punches. You find a way to challenge yourself, challenge your teammates.

"That puts everything else on the back burner."

Signed through 2022, Landry hopes for future prosperity with No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield. How might he be challenging the rookie quarterback?

"[Tell him] to stay positive, continue to make plays, use all the weapons, get the ball out of his hands," Landry said. "I don't put any limitations on Baker. I'm sure nobody here does. He's going to get better with experience. The throws ... he can make all of 'em."

Change expected

Interim coach Gregg Williams wouldn't disclose whether veteran Greg Robinson or undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison would start at left tackle, but all signs throughout the week pointed to it being Robinson.

Defensive end Myles Garrett became the latest Browns player to speak as if Robinson will start against the Falcons.

"Well, I've seen he's been working with me [in practice]," Garrett said. "I feel like I've been making him better. So I feel like if he can keep up with me, he can keep up with most guys. He's been doing well. He's been consistent."

Harrison started the first seven games of the season but sat out against the Chiefs with an illness. The second overall pick in 2014, Robinson started in place of Harrison and has been receiving praise from coach and teammates, including Mayfield, ever since.

— Nate Ulrich

Increased involvement

Receiver Breshad Perriman is carving out a larger role for himself with the Browns.

"He has really put some time in from a mental aspect of things to know what to do, so he's putting himself in good position to do that," offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens said. "He has good speed. He has demonstrated good hands for us. We're only going off what we see, and what we see is a player that's very hungry to get on the field and he has continued to work hard to do that."

Perriman played 20 snaps combined in his first two games with the Browns, who signed the former first-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 13. Then he played 26-of-75 snaps (35 percent), caught two passes for 36 yards on six targets and rushed twice for 9 yards against the Chiefs.

"Finally getting comfortable, doing pretty good with the playbook," Perriman said. "I was very pleased with my role and hopefully I’ll continue to grow."

Perriman is encouraged by the relationship he's building with Mayfield, who appreciates the receiver's ability to stretch the field.

"He's one of those guys that when he has the capability of doing that, we're going to continue to grow and get better as we go along," Mayfield said.

— Nate Ulrich

Extra points

• Mayfield was voted the NFL's Pepsi Rookie of the Week for the third time this season. The Browns have won the award six times in nine weeks. Rookie cornerback Denzel Ward has won it twice, and rookie running back Nick Chubb has won it once.

• The Browns listed seven players as questionable to play Sunday: Harrison (illness), Ward (hip), tight end David Njoku (knee, ribs), defensive back Damarious Randall (groin), linebacker Joe Schobert (hamstring), center JC Tretter (ankle) and receiver Da'Mari Scott (shoulder). Tretter is the only one who didn't practice until Friday. He has been playing through a high left ankle sprain since Oct. 14.